2015-Annual Town Report - Laserfiche WebLink

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The Activity Program continued to grow and Library, IT, Mashpee Cultural Council, and all other evolve in 2015 to meet its mission of providing Town departments and committees which provide meaningful and enjoyable activities to promote social, direct and indirect services to the Council on Aging, physical, cultural, intellectual and educational the Mashpee Senior Center,and the senior community. stimulation and to address the diverse needs and In particular,we appreciate the support of the citizens interests of the entire senior community, from baby at Town Meeting. With this support, the Council on boomers to those in their 90's. Seventy-nine new Aging continues to meet the challenges of our fast- programs and presentations were held at the Senior growing senior community and the community at large. Center, 10 of which were successfully integrated into our schedule of on-going activities.We are pleased that Respectfully submitted, the Mashpee Senior Center was one of only two THE MASHPEE COUNCIL ON AGING recipients in the state to be given the AARP Driver Irving Goldberg, Chairperson Safety Program Award in 2015. The award is given to Jack Jordan, Vice-Chairperson organizations that excel in supporting the importance Virginia McIntyre, Treasurer of safe driving and the AARP Smart Driver Course and Marijo Gomey,Secretary is in appreciation of all the Senior Center has done to Mary Gaffney help make the community safer for everyone. The Norah McCormick AARP Smart Driver Course has been presented Jean Noussee regularly at the Senior Center. C. Ernest Comelssen Lynne Waterman,Director The Outreach Coordinator continued to assist seniors in our community to find the resources needed to help them make the best choices to maintain the highest quality of life. In 2015,many senior residents Report of the needed help finding affordable housing,transportation, Mashpee Cultural Council medication,food,and ways of supplementing their low and/or fixed income. The Brown Bag program offers low income seniors a bag of groceries the first Friday To the Honorable Board of Selectmen and the of each month. The food to fill the bags is provided by Citizens of the Town of Mashpee: the Greater Boston Food Bank. The Outreach Coordinator also implemented new programs to help The Mashpee Cultural Council is a state grant seniors who are isolated. For example, a mailbox funding organization. Our mission is to promote sticker program was instituted as another technique to excellence, education, and diversity in the arts, help keep isolated seniors safe in their homes. humanities and interpretive sciences in order to help Additionally,the Outreach Coordinator assisted seniors improve the quality of life for our community's experiencing significant mental health concerns such residents. The Mashpee Cultural Council distributes as anxiety,depression,bipolar illness and/or substance funds appropriated by the state legislature that have abuse, as well as assisting seniors coping with been allotted by a local aid formula. The amount significant physical disabilities. allotted for Mashpee for 2016 is $4,500.00, which is We continue to be proud of the facilities and slightly higher than last year. programs of our beautiful Senior Center. We are also Grant applications are due October 15th each year very proud to be one of the few senior centers to offer and are awarded and funded for the following calendar courses through the Academy of Lifelong Learning year. Awards are made to community organizations or sponsored by Cape Cod Community College. We owe individuals that incorporate and/or build awareness for it all to the continued support of all the good citizens of the arts. Grants are made in accordance with our Town. Massachusetts Cultural Council and local guidelines. Because funds are limited and the goal is to grant as The Council on Aging wishes to acknowledge the many opportunities as possible,greatest consideration continued support shown to us by the Board of is given to those applicants who demonstrate Selectmen, Town Manager, Department of Public community impact, engagement, and uniqueness of Works, Recreation, Human Services, Police and Fire, 98